By Belize News Staff: A fatal shooting incident at the popular Secret Beach area in San Pedro Town has left a 46-year-old man dead. Authorities have launched an investigation following the incident, which occurred late Thursday night.
At approximately 9:45 PM, police were dispatched to Secret Beach Cabanas after receiving reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers encountered Alexi Marcelo Chavarria, a 27-year-old Belizean manager of the cabanas, who resides at the location.
The police then inspected the kitchen area of the building, where they discovered the body of Steven Francis Arceo, a 46-year-old Belizean vendor from the San Mateo area of San Pedro Town. Arceo’s body was found hanging through a glass window with multiple gunshot wounds. He was wearing brown shorts and no shirt.
According to Chavarria, the incident began around 8:57 PM when he was awakened by his common-law wife due to noises coming from the verandah. Fearing an intrusion, Chavarria armed himself with his licensed 9mm pistol, a Springfield Armory model, and proceeded to investigate. He reportedly heard noises at the glass sliding door and the main door, followed by a loud bang from the kitchen.
Chavarria claims he saw Arceo attempting to enter the house through a window. Despite shouting at Arceo to stop, Chavarria says Arceo continued to climb through the window, prompting Chavarria to fire six shots. Arceo was struck and became motionless, with his upper body inside the house and his legs hanging outside.
Crime scene investigators photographed and processed the scene, recovering six expended 9x19mm shell casings. The firearm used, along with its magazine containing eight live rounds, was retrieved. The body of Arceo was transported to San Pedro Polyclinic, where he was pronounced dead at 3:03 AM. The body has since been moved to the San Pedro Morgue pending a post-mortem examination.
Chavarria is cooperating with police as they continue to gather statements and evidence to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.
